Chapter 016: Surprise Visit
Chapter 016: Surprise Visit
**
My seventh day of talking with Yumi set off alarm bells.
She wasn't the type to hide things well, if she seemed off, something was definitely up.
But I hadn't installed real-time surveillance at home, so I couldn't see what was happening while I was away.
I couldn't press her too hard either, lest she grow suspicious. My mind inevitably began to wander.
I’d occasionally get up to smoke, or lie in bed staring blankly.
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
The next day, I rode back with colleagues in the company's camera van.
I hadn't informed Yumi of my return, having told her before leaving that I'd be away on business for two weeks.
By the time I arrived home, it was already afternoon.
Upon arriving, my first task was to check all the cameras I'd installed before leaving.
Thankfully, they were all functioning normally and hadn't been discovered. I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
After retrieving the cameras, I glanced at the wall clock.
Yumi and the others would be back in less than two hours.
The footage recorded these past days must be extensive, so I wouldn't have time to review it now.
I packed away all the cameras and began inspecting the room, scrutinizing every detail without knowing what I was searching for.
I rummaged through the untouched trash bins, hoping for some clue.
Nothing unusual was found, and the trash had been emptied just this morning.
Was I overthinking this? It seemed I'd have to wait for the footage to reveal any clues.
After tidying up all traces, I busied myself in the kitchen.
I'd brought back many local specialties from my trip, delicious treats I'd enjoyed in that city, and wanted Yumi to try them too.
With half an hour left before Yumi and Jihoon got out of school, I laid out all the dishes on the table.
Seeing this lavish spread before me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
I wouldn't claim to be perfect at anything, but I was confident in my cooking skills.
Glancing at the clock, I still had time before picking up Yumi and Jihoon.
Usually, they took the bus home.
Only I had a driver's license in the family, and Yumi hadn't gotten hers yet, so when I wasn't home, the car typically stayed parked in the garage.
After arranging the dishes neatly, I dashed downstairs, jumped in the car, and drove to the school entrance.
I hadn't told Yumi beforehand…I wanted to surprise her.
The drive from home to school took only about ten minutes.
Sitting idly in the car listening to music, I parked right at the school gate, making it impossible to miss.
Yumi would see my car the moment she stepped out. The time came.
Students and teachers began streaming out of the school. My eyes were glued to the entrance.
What if Yumi didn't see me and went straight to the bus stop? Then I'd have come for nothing.
Ten minutes passed, and the stream of people leaving the school gates had dwindled.
Yet, from start to finish, I never saw Yumi or Jihoon emerge.
At that moment, dark thoughts began to surface in my mind.
I admit that sometimes my thoughts can be quite twisted, and I'm prone to jealousy, like the jealousy I've been feeling lately over Yumi and Jihoon.
To others, I might seem like a petty man.
But honestly, this is a perfectly normal mindset for men like us…
What kind of men? Men with physical sexual limitations whose wives are exceptionally beautiful and sexy.
Consider this: if a man suffers from sexual dysfunction while his wife is exceptionally beautiful, alluring, and sexually voracious, he'll live in constant fear and suspicion, scrutinizing her every move.
In severe cases, such men descend into a pathological state of paranoia.
The inevitable outcome? Excessive distrust leads to marital ruin and family breakdown.
And right now, I feel like I'm not far from that state myself. Sigh.
Ultimately, it all comes down to my own physical condition. Who can blame me for being born infertile, a useless shell of a man?
As my thoughts drifted, another ten minutes slipped by.
It had been over twenty minutes since school let out.
Even if Yumi and the others took the bus, they should be home by now.
I didn't call Yumi's cell phone. Instead, I dialed the landline at home.
The call went unanswered until it disconnected automatically, confirming Yumi and Jihoon hadn't returned yet.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket, locked the car, and quickened my pace toward the academic building where Yumi and Jihoon were.
All the way, I scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yumi and Jihoon.
But even after entering the building, I still didn't see them.
The sky had grown dark early that day, turning black before five o'clock.
From outside the building, I could see that only a few classrooms still had their lights on.
I first went to the classroom where Yumi and Jihoon were supposed to be, only to find it completely empty, the door locked and lights off.
There was one place left to check: Yumi's office.
If neither of them was there, I'd have no choice but to call Yumi's cell.
My heart suddenly raced as I walked step by step toward her office, passing other offices where teachers had already left for the day.